Cutting apparatus.



Patented 1an. l7', 1902,.

(No Movdel.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE Il, PETERSON., OF NEMAIIA COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CUTTING APPARATUS. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 690,767, dated January 7, 1902. Application ledl'une 25, 1901. Serial No. 65|970. (No model.)

' To all wil/0m, it may con/067%:

Beit known that I, GEORGE H. PETERSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing in thel county of Nemaha, in the State of Nebraska,

have invented certain new and useful lm-V provelnents in Cutting Apparatus; and I dov hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relatesto improvements in cutting apparatus, and more particularly to that class of cutters adapted for cutting circular cakes or blocks of cheese, butter, or thelike, regardless of size or weight, whereby the article operated upon may be divided into pounds or fractions thereof.

The object in view is the production of a cutting apparatus which shall be capable of cutting a predetermined quantity of the article operated uponand at the Sametime be capable of penetrating the wrapper inclosing the article, as the cloth at the base of a cake,

of cheese.

With this and other objects in view it consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangementsof parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of acutting apparatus embodying the features of my in vention. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged fragmentary view of the knife, in side elevation, and the surroundingparts in section. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detail perspective view of the scale-bar and holder. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged detail view of the bearing formed in the supporting-arch for the rock-shaft; and Fig. 5 represents a similar view of the lower end of the central guidepost, illustrating the outward flare p of the lower end of its guiding-groove.

In carrying out my invention, as illustrated in the drawings, IY provide asuitable box or casing,as 1,within which is pivotally or otherwise suitably secured a preferably circular table, as 2, which is mounted upon any suitable casters or antifriction-be'arings, as 3, whereby said table is free to be rotated when desired.l The upper face of the table 2 is preferably provided with circular graduated plates, as 4 4, in any preferred number, corresponding in size to the usual sizes of the cheese or other articles to be cut. i

Arranged centrally of and secured to the top of casing 1 is preferably provided a vertical post, as 5, extending a suitable distance intothe said box or casing 1. A vertical groove, as 7, is formed longitudinally of pbst 5 and is provided with an outwardly-dared portion at its lower end, as at 8. Vertical posts, as 9 9, are arranged at or near one corner of casing 1, between which posts a knife 11 operates. The knife 11 is arranged so as to be capable of both a vertical and a horizontal reciprocation, and the inner edge of the knife is guided by slot 7 during the vertical reciprocation of the same,whi1e the outer edge is guided in both the vertical and horizontal movements by lneans of posts 9 9. To

more effectually guide said knife 11y in its vertical movement and to prevent any possibility of longitudinal action during such vertical movement,I provide antifriction-rollers, as 6 6, on opposite sides of one of the posts 9, one near the upper and one near the lower edge of the knife. A bend, as 6', is preferably formed in one of the posts 9, near its lower end, for permitting the lower roller 6 Vto pass said post at such point when the knife 11 is at the lowest point of its vertical movement and is moved longitudinally.

Centrally of the upper edge of knife 11 is provided an upwardly-extending arm, as 12, which arm may be secured at its lower end to said knife by any suitable means, as rivets or bolts, and at its upper end is pivotallyse cured between the two parallel members of a link, as 13. The two members of link 13-are pivoted at their opposite ends to a lever, las 14, which lever is composed of two parallel members, each member being pivoted to one of the members of link 13, and the opposite ends of the members comprising lever 14 eX- tend on either side of post 5 and are provided with registering polygonal apertures for receiving the polygonal portionof the inner end 16 of rock-shaft 16, as best seen in Fig. 4. The rock-shaft 16 finds bearings for its inner end in the bifurcated portion, as 17', of armv 17, the upper end of said arm` being secured in any desired or preferred mannerto the top of casing 1 and the arms of bifurcation 17 surroundin post 5. By this arran gem cnt tho ICO end 1G' of shaft 1G will be supported on the opgosiie side of post 5 to that of the knife 11, and the said shaft will extend at a right angle io the parallel members comprisinglever Ll. tends through the walls of casing 1 at a snitable point, provided with a bearing-plate 18, and said shaft 1G is provided with a right-angled lever, as 15), having a handle 2O at its outer end,whereby said shaft maybe rotated.

To raise knife 11, handle 2O is grasped and pulled upwardly, thereby rotating shaft 1G, raising the lower end of lever 14, and with it link 13 and knife 1l, the said knife passing between the two members comprising link 3, as well as between the two members comprising lever 1.1:. To lower the knife, the operation is reversed, the knife having its inner edge guided by slot 7 and its outer edge guided by posts 9 9 by means of rollers G, as hereinbefore mentioned. lVhen knife 11 is in its lowermost position, the upper inner corner, or, rather, the upper portion ofthe inneredge, is adapted to extend slightly above the lower end of post 5 and in engagement with the flared portion S of slot 7.

A suitable handle, as 21, is secured to the outer end of an arm 10, carried by the knife 11. Said knife, being pivoted to link 12S, is free to be reciprocated horizontally by means of said arm 10 and handle 2l, the lower roller (.3 passing the loop 6' of post il. Vhen it is desired to make a horizontal or draw cut, it is only necessary to grasp the handle 21 and move the knife back and forth. This horizontal reciproeation of knife 1l. will be advantageous for many purposes, but principally for cutting the cheese-cloth on the base of the cake of cheese operated upon. It will be obvious that the flared portion S of groove 7 is adapted to receive the inner edge of knife vl l at each horizontal stroke, whereby all danger of missing groove 7 in vertically oscillating the knife after the same has been moved horizontally is obviated.

A scale-bar, as provided with suitable graduations, is arranged outside the periphery of the cheese or the article to be cut and on the same horizontal plane as the upper face of the said article. This scale-bar is hinged, as at 213, to a bar, as 2i, which extends approximately at a right angle thereto and has its Vfree end extending through an aperture in a lug, as 25, carried by one of the posts il. A set-screw 2U is preferably thread ed into lug 25 at an angle to and having its inner end in contact with har 24, whereby the bar may be adjusted longitudinally for adjusting scale-bar to aeconunodatc the various sizes of articles to be operated upon. ln operation the table 2, with its cake of cheese, is swung about until the cut edge of the cheese registers with the end of said scalebar or with an)7 desired mark of graduation thereupon, and the knife may then he operated as described. vWhen not in use, the

scalemhar .C22 is Vfolded b f means of hinge 23 'lhe outer end of rock-shaft 1G ex-` to a vertical position, and bar 24: is moved longitudinally through lug 25 until the scalehar rests against post G, when said bar is locked by set-screw 2G. The parts heilig in this position and the knife 11 raised toits highest vertical position, a cake of cheese may be readily placed within casing 1. upon table 2 or removed therefrom.

The arrangement of knife 11 is particularly advantageous, as it provides means whereby a downward stroke of lever-handle 20 will produce a downward cutting stroke of the knife, whereby greater power may the more readily be applied to the said knife, andthe pivotal connections ot' said knife permit of horizontal reci procation of the same, which is considered an important advantage.

Although I have particularly described one specific embodiment of the present invention, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact structure specified, but shall feel at liberty to deviate from the precise shape, size, and minor details of the parts within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a eheese-eutter, the combination with asuitable casing, a knife, reciprocating means for raising and lowering the same, a connection between said knife and said reeiprocating means for permitting a horizontal movement of the knife, and a lever for operating said reciprocating means, of a handheld extending from said knife by which the same may be drawn back and forth horizontally, means for guiding said knife positively in its `vertical movement, means for permittingthe knife io be moved horizontally when it is in a lowered position, and means for guiding said knife in its horizontal movement, substantially as described.

A cheese-cutter comprising in its con struction a knife movably mounted in a snitable casing, means for reciprocatingthe knife, comprising a rock-shaft pivoted in the casing, and a connection between said knife and said shaft for permitting a horizontal movement of the knife, a lever-arm for operating the shaft, a guide at the inner end of the knife which extends low enough in the casing to hold the knife but not low enough to inter fere with the insertion of the cheese beneath it, an outer guide for the knife, comprising vertical bars, one of said bars having an outset formed therein, and guiding means on the knife for engaging each side of the offset bar, the structure being such that the knife will be guided in its vertical movement, and the offset portion of the outer guidebar will permit of the knife being moved longitudinally when lowered, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cheese-cutter, the combination with a casing, of a knife mounted therein, mechanical means for reciprocating said knife, and a connection between said knife and said reciprocating means for permitting a horizontal.

IOO

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movement of the knife, an inner guide engaging the inner end of the knife, an outer guide near the outer end thereof, said outer guide comprising two bars, one of which is provided with an offset portion near its lower end, guiding-rollers carried by the knife, one of said rollers being arranged near'the upper edge of the knife and on the outer side of one of the guide-bars, while the other roller is arranged near the lower edge of the knife and so as to come opposite the offset portion of the guidebar when the knife is lowered, whereby the knife may be pulled out and pushed in again' for producing a draw cut, substantially'as described.

4. In a cheese-cutter, the combination with a casing,of a knife within the same, and means for guiding said knife in a vertical plane, comprising a vertically-arranged post secured to the top of the casing and extending only partially across the interior of said casing, a sufiicient distance being left between the inner end of said post and the bottom of said casing to admit of the passage of a cake of cheese or other articles to be cut, means for raisingand lowering said knife, comprising a lever composed of two parallel members spaced apart and Vpivotally connected with said knife, a rock-shaft carried by the free end of said 1everand extending outside of said casing, and means whereby said rock-shaft may be rocked, substantially as described.

5. In a cheese-cutter, the combination with a casing, of a vertically-operating knife Within the same, a table rotatably mounted within the casing for supporting a cake of cheese, antifriction-bearings beneath the table, a plurality of separate circular rings of different diameters laid upon the upper'surface of the table, the said rings all being concentric, whereby the cheese can be easily centered beneath the knife, a scale-bar for measuring the size of slices of the cheese carried by the said rings, and means for moving said scale-bar laterally in a horizontal plane for accommodating cheeses of varying diameters, substantially as described.

6. In a cheese-cutter, the combination with a suitable casing, of a knife mounted within the same, a rock-shaft for reciprocating said knife finding bearings in said casing, a connection between said knife and said reciprocaiing means for permitting a horizontal movement of the knife comprising an arm carried by said shaft and pivotally connected with said knife, means for rocking the said rock-shaft, guides for directing the vertical movement of saidknife, and a handle carried by the outer edge of. said knife for moving the same horizontally, substantially as described.

7. In a cheese-cutter, the combination with a suitable casing, of aknife mounted within the same, means for reciprocating said knife and a connection between said knife and said reciprocating means for permitting a radiall movement of the knife, a post secured to the top of the casing and extending downwardly therefrom and provided with a longitudinal groove flared at its lower end, the said groove being adapted to guide the inner edge of said knife in its vertical movement, a verticallyarranged post on each of the opposite sides of said knife, adapted to guide the knife both in its radial and vertical movements, antifriction-bearings carried by said knife arranged to engage opposite sides of one of said posts, whereby said knife during its vertical stroke will be held against oscillation, a bend near the lower end of one of said guiding-posts adapted to permit the passage between said posts of the inner antifrictionbearing,thereby also permitting a radial movement of said knife when at the lowest point of its vertical stroke, and a handle carried by the outer edge ofsaid knife adapted to be grasped for drawing the vsame back and forth, substantially as described.

8. In a cheese-cutter, the combination with a suitable casing, of a vertically-operable knife mounted within the same and means for operating said knife,comprisin gan upwardlyextending arm rigidly secured to said knife, a link pivoted to said arm, comprising two spaced parallel members, one of said members being secured on either side of said arm,

inner and outer guide-posts for guiding the inner and outer edges of said knife, an arm comprising two spaced parallel members,each

of which is pivotally secured to the free end of one of the link members, the members comprising said arm extending on either side of the said inner guide-post, arock-shaft carrying said arm at its inner end and adapted to actuate it and extending outside said casing at its other end, and means for rocking said rock-shaft, whereby said knife will be vertically oscillated passing between the members comprising said link and said lever, substantially as described.

9. In a cheese-cutter the combination with a suitable casing, ot' a vertically-operable knife mounted within the same and means for operating said knife, comprising an arm pivotally connected therewith, a rock-shaft for actuating said arm provided with a polygonal IOO IIO

end adapted to be passed through a polygonal GEORGE H. PETERSON.

- Vitnesses:

CHARLES E. Woon, Trino. FRERicI-Is. 

